We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meredith Heim-ziegler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meredith below.
Meredith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry
In recent years, the trend of grand, lavish weddings filled with every conceivable trend has started to shift dramatically. Gone are the days of “Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses”, where couples felt pressured to have the biggest, most extravagant celebration to impress their guests or live up to the expectations of social media perfection. With the overwhelming number of Pinterest boards, Instagram posts, and influencer weddings saturating our feeds, it’s no surprise that many couples have started to question whether that’s truly what they want for their special day. Instead, there’s a noticeable shift toward more intimate, meaningful weddings with less emphasis on size and spectacle, and more focus on creating a personalized, unforgettable experience.
Many of my clients are opting for weddings with fewer than 100 guests, choosing to surround themselves only with their closest friends and family. This trend places an emphasis on quality over quantity, focusing on the details that truly matter to the couple. These weddings are no longer the stiff, structured affairs that follow a cookie-cutter schedule, but instead, they feel more like a laid-back party where the couple and their guests can relax, enjoy the day, and truly connect. It’s about creating an experience that feels authentic to them rather than adhering to outdated traditions or trying to impress others.
Some couples are taking this intimacy to the next level with micro-destination weddings. By reallocating what would have been spent on a larger, more traditional wedding, they are opting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that includes upgraded flights, luxury resort accommodations, and even renting private cars or helicopters to take them to their elopement destination. This allows them to truly enjoy their wedding as a personal adventure, one where the focus is solely on their relationship and their journey together rather than trying to satisfy an extensive guest list. It’s a beautiful way to make the day feel extraordinary without the pressure of trying to meet external expectations.
At the heart of this shift is the realization that the only thing that truly matters is the couple themselves. For so long, weddings have been surrounded by societal pressure, highlighting everything except the reason for the day—celebrating the love between two people. Over the years, that core focus has often been lost amidst the stress of planning the perfect event. But as more couples embrace these smaller, more intimate weddings, they’re reclaiming their day, bringing the attention back to what matters most: them and their commitment to each other.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My career path has been quite a ride, but looking back it is almost magical seeing how everything lead to me the fulfillment and deep sense of purpose I am able to feel today.
I am a retired cardiac sonographer/echocardiographer. I spent most of my time in the city, where I quickly learned how to thrive in high-paced, high-stress environments. After six years of schooling, I spent just four years in the field before a shoulder injury—caused by overuse during the strain of COVID—forced me to retire early. That experience taught me how intense environments raise your threshold for stress, and how to approach every challenge with a mindset of growth. I’ve learned to see each ‘no’ or failure as a valuable lesson or a pivot to something better, and I carry that perspective with me as I move forward. During this time though, my favorite part of the job was being a listening ear to my patients, whether it was about their health or just their life. I grew to notice my deep empathy for someone else’s experience and peace of mind.
From this I started a company based in my visual spatial strengths, and creative nature. My first legal company was WOODIE, a wooden wick vegan candle company. All of the products are snarky and fun, making great gifts and salability with a ‘omg look at this!’ factor. Another one of my collections was based on domestic and international Airport Codes. These were very popular with real estate agents, customers with long distance friends and family members, and travel agents.
My business sense from this endeavor landed me a job as a Wedding Venue and Social Media Manager. I was immersed (literally, I lived on the property) in the wedding world gaining a deep understanding of the industry, its shortcomings, vendor and client needs. I loved meeting so many couples on venue tours, and much of the time these couples and I would be roaring laughing at the end of the tour. I was dedicated to always being transparent and real with them, making sure their expectations and vision were feasible and not setting them up for disappointment in the long run just to make a buck. Due to my honest nature, many of these clients would email me a few weeks later asking if I planned weddings. I gave it some time, and waited until I had seen over 50 weddings at my venue before I took on my first paid client. I wanted to be sure I saw how things could go wrong, learn how to prepare, and build my confidence in this industry. Through these events, I noticed immense burn out and fatigue from many of the vendors, especially those who had been in it for more than 10 years. After seeing this, I created a monthly women’s entrepreneurial group (MANIF3ST www.fancyfarmfling.com/manifest) to meet up and find support within the somewhat isolating and very high pressure industry. I have always operated from the perspective that people can achieve more as a unit than alone.
All of this became a domino effect of identifying a need and providing a solution. This is how The Fancy Farm Fling (wedding planning, coordination and rentals @fancyfarmfling ), Heim Ziegler Pictures (wedding day content and branding media @heimzieglerpictures ), and The Honeymoon BFF (modern couples travel advisors @thehoneymoonbff ) came to be.
As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve started over a dozen endeavors and businesses in the last decade. Some stuck, some did not. Some were fun, but not sustainable. I see my ideas as darts thrown at a dart board, one or two of them are going to stick long term and be my ikagai; The perfect intersection of my talents, my passions, what my clients need and the greater good. I would bet on my life that I have finally found that perfect place for myself. The people, the creativity, and the excitement is plentiful. Last year has been so successful I have officially welcomed Associate and Assistant Planners onto my team this year. Let’s grow!!!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
As an entrepreneur, I’ve had to unlearn the notion that failure means it’s time to give up. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that failure is simply a form of redirection, a chance to pause, reassess, and adjust course. My journey hasn’t been without its challenges—one of the most significant being a torn rotator cuff. This injury served as a painful reminder that physical labor can only take you so far and my realization that my mind and creativity was my best asset. As my body began to limit what I could physically handle, I was forced to rethink how I approached my work, especially as a business owner. For years, my ventures required significant physical effort, whether it was crafting custom products, or delivering/managing rentals. But the injury was a turning point—it wasn’t just about healing my shoulder, it was about reimagining what I wanted my entrepreneurial life to look like.
At the same time, the post-pandemic economic dip highlighted the need for businesses to be adaptable and resilient. The world was changing, and I had to be willing to pivot as well. With the rise of remote work and the demand for more flexible, less physically demanding roles, I began to focus on opportunities that allowed me to leverage my skills without burning out. My goal became clear: I wanted to create businesses that not only offered value to clients but also gave me the freedom to be more present with my family, to work from home, and to enjoy a healthier work-life balance.
This led me to start over a dozen businesses over the past decade. Each one was a learning experience, pushing me to adapt and grow. Some ventures, like the custom cornhole game business or event rental services, were more hands-on and required physical effort. Others, like my wedding planning, content creation and travel advisory services, allowed me to tap into my creative side while focusing more on managing the overall experience than the labor-intensive tasks. The ability to pivot and evolve has been key—whether it’s shifting from a custom candle business to a wedding day content creator or studying to become a honeymoon travel advisor to supplement my wedding planning services, I’ve embraced each challenge as a chance to redefine my goals and push through barriers. Ultimately, these experiences have taught me that failure is not about giving up, but about taking a step back, learning from what didn’t work, and finding a better path forward.
Above all, community is what truly fuels growth in the wedding and event industry. Building strong connections with fellow professionals and vendors not only opens doors to new opportunities, but referrals from trusted sources are priceless. The truth is, you can never accomplish anything great on your own—collaboration and support are key. I founded an industry women’s entrepreneurial group, MANIF3ST, where we empower each other to grow, share knowledge, and lift each other up. It’s in these meaningful connections that we find the strength and inspiration to thrive and succeed together.
Any advice for managing a team?
Successfully managing a team of wedding planning assistants requires a balance of strong leadership, clear communication, and fostering a positive and collaborative environment. First and foremost, setting clear expectations from the start is key. Each team member should understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as the specific goals for each event they’re working on. This allows them to feel confident in their contributions and prevents any confusion or overlap in tasks. Regular check-ins to assess progress and clarify any doubts ensure that everyone is on the same page, which is essential in a high-stress environment like wedding planning.
Keeping morale high within the team is just as important as meeting deadlines and fulfilling responsibilities. Wedding planning can be demanding, and burnout is a real risk, so it’s crucial to foster a supportive atmosphere. I encourage an open-door policy where team members feel comfortable voicing their concerns or contacting me any time. I always acknowledge their hard work and celebrate small victories along the way—whether that’s finishing a big task or receiving positive feedback from a client. Recognition goes a long way in making people feel valued and motivated to do their best. We have regular happy hours, wellness days and am looking to book our first group retreat within the next year!
Equally important is creating a sense of camaraderie and being sure any new-hires will have chemistry with their colleagues. Weddings are a team effort, and when everyone is working together toward a shared goal, it’s easy to see how their individual efforts contribute to the overall success of the event. I try to foster collaboration by encouraging team-building activities, both work-related and social, to help build strong relationships among team members. When your assistants feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, they’re more likely to stay engaged, happy, and invested in their work.
Lastly, I know that their experiences on my team are opportunities for growth and professional development. When team members feel they are learning and advancing, they are more likely to stay motivated and passionate about their role. This includes good clients, impressive venues, and clients respecting me and my work. I offer additional training and entrusting them with more responsibility such as Wedding Day Content Creation, or if they are well traveled, being a travel advisor on my team with The Honeymoon BFF. This not only boosts their confidence but also keeps them engaged in the process. When a team feels supported and valued, they’ll be more likely to continue putting forth their best effort, even during the most demanding moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fancyfarmfling.com
- Instagram: @fancyfarmfling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyfarmfling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-heim
- Other: WEDDING AND BRANDING CONTENT CREATORS: www.heimzieglerpictures.com
HONEYMOON TRAVEL AGENCY: www.thehoneymoonbff.com
ELOPEMENT PLANNER: www.firstclasselopements.com
Image Credits
@heimzieglerpictures @asummersphoto @hollycroftphotography @hayleystidhamphotography @margarita_photography